Patrolman Melanie Dodson accepts her 25 Year Service Award in Zelienople Borough beside her parents. Left to Right: Wayne Reeb, Melanie Dodson, Council Member Marietta Reeb, and Mayor Thomas Oliverio. Submitted photo

On Monday, Aug. 14, Mayor Thomas Oliverio honored patrolman Melanie Dodson for 25 years of serving the Zelienople area.

According to Dodson, she wanted to be a police officer since she was a young child.

“The kindergarten used to come here for a tour and one of the officers has a picture of me,” Dodson said. “I think I had leg irons on or something. That was kindergarten, so I was 5, and that was it.”

According to Oliverio, Dodson’s first day was Aug. 10, 1998, and she celebrated 25 years of service last week.